Clutch disk



C. HAIGH Jan. 28, 193.

CLUTCH DISK Filed Feb. l2. 1927 a A... ....5. n??

Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES CHRISTOPHR HAIGH, F WINTHROP, MASSACHUSETTS CLUTCH nrs-x Application led February 12, 1927. Serial No. 167,840.

The present invention relates to clutch disks Such as 'are used in automobile clutches, for example, and which comprise ordinarily a clutch plate and a hub, the` plate and hub `being formed as two separate members suita ably riveted or bolted together and the pe,-

ripheral portion of the plate beingprovided 'with a suitable facing of friction material.

In connection with the manufacture of clutch disks, (and by the term clutch disk I mean'a structure comprising a clutch plate and a hub), it has been the usual practice to form the hubs either as a forging or a screw machine part. Both of these meth- 15 odsfof manufacture are relatively expensive.

Also, if a forging is used,'the equipment for making itis costly and if ascrew machine part is used, a large investment in'screw' machi-nes is required, it being necessary to use machines of large size.

` One object of my invention is to provide an improved clutch disk whereby I produce a clutch disk equal vmechanically to clutch disks now in use but which I am enabled to manufacture at.v lower cost and with less costlymanufacturing equipment.

Again, one of the problems in connection with automobiles is the elimination of noises which are transmitted through the driving gear and clutch into the car body, anda further object of my invention is to provide an improved clutch disk structure which will, Ato a considerable extent, at least, absorb and dampen vout the transmission vibrations which are the primary cause of many objectionable. noises, especially in closed cars.

According to my invention, I provide a clutchv plate having a central `opening of a diameter substantially that desired for the finished clutch disk and I then construct the vhu from a number of washers of suitable size and thickness which are fastened to the 4clutch plate and to each other in a suitable manner such as by being riveted or welded together. The washers may be formed, for

example, by stamping them from sheet material of convenient thickness, by cutting them from a bar, or by cutting them from a tube. At some stage of the manufacture, the washers areA provided with slots in the material adjacent to their central openings so that when assembled with each other and withv the clutch plate there is provided one or more continuous splines in the material at the center of the assembly. This splining operation maybe, with advantage left for the last operation after assembly. lso, during manufacture the washers may be pro-A vided with a number of holes to receive rivets for fastening the washers and clutch plate together. v

According to another feature of my invention, I construct either the clutch plate or the hub, or both'the clutch plate and the hub from non-metallic material such as spinnable textile woven fabric united by an adhesivesuch as a phenolic condensation product, shellac or the. like, or a non-metallic material such as hard rubber, impregnated wood or the like. By thisarrangement, I rovide a 7 structurev whereby the clutch disk as a capacity for absorbing vibrations and hence for deadening sounds.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a clutch disk embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a side view thereof; Figs. 3,4, 5

and 6 are views similar to Fig. 1 showing modifications, and Fig.`7 is a detail sectional view of a further modification.

' Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, 1 80 indicates la clutch plate having a facing 2 of suitable material. In the present instance,

a clutch plate of the t pe disclosed in the patent to Guay and guay, N o. 1,493,433, granted May 6, 1924 is shown by way of example. The hub is indicated at 3. It comprises a number of washers 4 of convenient thickness attached to clutch plate 1 and to each other by rivets 5. The splines for the structures are indicated at 6. In the construc- 9 tion shown in Figs. 1 and 2 both the clutch plate and the hub are indicated as being made from :non-metallic material.

In Fig. 3 there is shown a construction similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 except that 95 the hub 7 .is made of metal, the plate 8 being made from non-metallic material. Also, in this modification, the clutch facing 9 is shown as being formed from sheet friction material suitably fastened to the clutch plate.

The modification shown in Fig. 4 is similar to that shown in Fig. 3 except that the clutch plate 10 is formed from metal and the hub 11 is formed from non-metallic material.

In the modification shown in Fig. 5, both the plate 12 and the hub 13 are formed from metal. This Fig. 5 constructior does not ossess the sound deadening or sound absorbing properties of the other constructions. The construction has the advantage, however, of being ca able ofmanufacture at a low cost and wit out requiring expensive manufacturing equipment.

Fig. 6 shows-amoditication wherein the clutch late 14 is formed of metal and the hub is ormed from non-metallic washers 15 and metallic washers 17 arranged alternately.

Fig. 7 shows an arrangement similar to that shown in Fig. 1 wherein the hub 17 formed from non-metallic washers is provided with a metal bushing 18 having splines 19. Bushing 18 may be fastened in position in any suitable manner such as by means of a press fit and the flanged ends shown.

According to the preferred method of manufacture, I provide a clutch plate having a cent-ral openlng with notches in the material around the opening and with suitably spaced holes to receive the fastening rivets. I then provide washers of suitable and convenient thickness provided with notches for forming the splines and with spaced openings for the rivets. Next I assemble the washers on the clutch plate with the rivet holes in alignment and then rivet them together. After this the splines may be bro'aehed.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have describedl the princi- .ple of operation of my invention together with apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiments thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A clutch structure comprising a clutch plate and a hub, said hub being formed from non-metallic material.

2. A clutch structure `comprising a clutch plate and a hub, said hub being formed from non-metallic material and being providedv with a. central metallic bushing having splines in its bore.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 10th day of February, 1927.

CHRISTOPHER HAIGH. 

